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Relationship Building in Kansas City

Before a team can be built and before victories can be compiled, relationship must be forged.

At least, that’s the idea of new Kansas City cornerback Stanford Routt. Thus, this offseason has been about building friendships with his new Chiefs’ teammates.

Going into a six-week break before training camp, Routt, who was signed by the Chiefs in February after being a salary-cap dump by the Oakland Raiders, believes he is building a strong bond with his new teammates.

“If you want to do anything in life and it’s a team, if you want to be in any way successful, the teammates, the players, they have to care for one another,” Routt said. “I know that definitely first-hand from places that I’ve been. You’ve got to care for one another if you want to be successful. You can go ahead, you can win games here and there, but if you really, really want to do something special, everybody has to care for one another.”

A key for Routt is to become close with fellow cornerback Brandon Flowers. Routt is replacing Brandon Carr, who left in free agency. Flowers and Carr have been partners in Kansas City for the past four years. Now, Routt and Flowers are forging their own partnership. Routt said the two are starting to bond and it should pay off on the field.

“When I first got here, we really didn’t talk much, but it’s going real well now,” Routt said of his relationship with Flowers. “I’ve always seen him from the other side of the field in years past and always admired his play then. Playing alongside him now, I can tell that it’s going to be a real good year.”